VIDEO: How poor security helped a geek get his stolen computer back two years later (NSFW)

Filed Under: Apple, Data loss, Law & order, Malware, Privacy

Normally we advise you to secure your computer to prevent people from accessing it remotely. After all, you don't want them to see what you're doing, accessing your files or installing keylogging malware.

But maybe things are different if it's your computer you're trying to break into - two years after it was stolen from your apartment.

That's exactly the scenario in the following presentation given at Defcon 18 by "Zoz", who decided to trackdown the whereabouts of his stolen Apple computer.

Warning: there's some rude language in the video, and a few images that you may not find work-friendly. Please decide if you're comfortable with that before viewing.

It's a pretty funny video that deserves a wider audience. Hopefully it will serve as a warning to other computer thieves not to pick on us geeks.

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13 Responses to VIDEO: How poor security helped a geek get his stolen computer back two years later (NSFW)

  1. Sheila Livingston says:

    LOVE IT! I normally don't watch lengthy videos but that one was totally worth it!

  2. Roz says:

    Good one Graham. Thanks for the insights & a very amusing presentation ! From another Aussie ! Cheers Roz

  3. David H says:

    I'm going to be late for work as a result, but it was totally worth it! Fantastic! Great lessons learned.

  4. giuppi says:

    One day this guy is going to regret using such vindicative tone and racy comments.

    • Nuvi says:

      Oh come on... He was talking about a thief who had either
      stolen his computer or at very least was knowingly using stolen
      property. BTW. Americans are not allowed to use words like
      "vindictive" until they can spell them correctly
      or can put them in correct context...

  5. Roy Jones Jr says:

    Well the racy comments and his tone is normal for those
    from Europe (im not sure if this Zoz is British) and plus he
    finally got his stuff back and saw the face of the person who did
    it. I would be taking jabs at the person too. People that feel an
    urge to steal computers should just man up and buy their
    own.

      • Roy Jones Jr says:

        You're probably right. I haven't been across the pond so I can't really place accents to their respective continent. :P

        • ollieography says:

          If you listen back to the beginning where he talks about
          backing up his pc and sending off the HDD's back home to
          Australia, you learn he is an Aussie. That and the comment above
          that says, "from another Aussie" that's
          also a good clue. This was a pretty cool clip. And yeah, that tool
          who stole it got what he deserved. What a total tard. Oh well
          hopefully Darwin's theory of evolution will help fix that
          problem soon enough.

      • Janne T says:

        He may be an Aussie born to British parents, but that accent is NOT an Aussie one...bit of its are similar, but thats a pommy accent predominently. His attitude is definately Aussie, as is his cavalier attitude, and I LOVE that. :) I am guessing he was a kid when he came to Australia; the accent confused by hearing true pom at home, and Australian at school. The man is a bloody genius, and as determined as a terrier! KUDOS Zoz!! I found this amazing AND entertaining. If people have a problem with your language, then tough titties! Get over it, and focus on the lesson he is trying to teach you.

  6. @BFroberg says:

    That was quite interesting, thank you for sharing. I do
    remember that guy from Prototype This!

  7. donna says:

    The presentation would have been more enjoyable without the profanity. Someone should let this young man know that foul language is not a sign of "cool genuis," but rather lame duck mentality. Leave the four letter words for the low lifes and criminals...rise above it! My impression: Brilliant young man with a limited ability to express himself with eloquence. I'm glad he got his computer back.

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About the author

Graham Cluley has worked in the computer security industry for more than 20 years, developing anti-virus software and doing quite a lot of talking about internet threats. He's won awards for his blogging, but is proudest of the text adventure games he wrote when he was still wearing short trousers. You can learn more about those (the games, not the trousers) at grahamcluley.com. Send Graham an email, subscribe to his updates on Facebook, follow him on Twitter and App.net, and circle him on Google Plus for regular updates.